Ursula

Set in the quiet town of Nemours, this novel turns on a contested inheritance and the fate of an orphaned girl. Dr. Minoret, an aging rationalist, is drawn toward Christian faith late in life after witnessing experiments in mesmerism and somnambulism, and he resolves to leave his fortune to his gentle goddaughter Ursule. His grasping relatives have other plans, and a stolen will sets greed against innocence. Balzac, who counted this among his favorites, weaves together provincial manners, questions of belief, and even prophetic dreams that reach beyond the grave. The result is one of the warmer entries in his scenes of provincial life. This free PDF and EPUB edition offers the complete story to read at no cost.